Things You'll Need
- Guinea pig playpen
- Cardboard boxes
- Cardboard tubes
- Scissors
- Nontoxic tape
Instructions
Collect old cardboard boxes of various sizes and cut rat-size holes in the sides of the larger ones.
Put a few healthy treats into the smallest boxes and close but don't cut any holes. Your pets can discover how to get the treats out, usually by chewing.
Connect some of the holes with large cardboard tubes big enough for a rat to climb through. If you don't have any such tubes, make your own by rolling up pieces of stiff cardboard and securing with tape.
Create a tower by securing gradually smaller boxes one on top of another with tape. Rats enjoy climbing.
Place all your cardboard items in the pen or small room with the tower in the middle.
Put your rats in the play area and leave them there for as long as possible. If you are using a pen, keep an eye on them just in case one finds a way out. This is more likely with female rats.
Throw away any cardboard boxes or tubes that become soiled and replace with new ones next time.